Paterno keeps QB carousel going

STATE COLLEGE — Penn State quarterbacks Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin agree on at least two things.

GENARO C. ARMAS

STATE COLLEGE — Penn State quarterbacks Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin agree on at least two things.

They'd rather not share the job, but they'll do what needs to be done to win games.

Not that they have much of a choice — coach Joe Paterno, after all, calls the shots, and he's apparently sticking with his two-man quarterback rotation for the foreseeable future, starting with Saturday's Big Ten opener at Indiana.

"The kids, it's all in the results. And I think both those kids (Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin) are doing a good job for us," coach Joe Paterno said. "Our problem is not the quarterback. We've got two good, solid quarterbacks."

On Wednesday, his two quarterbacks stuck with the team-first message and offered no hints of discord about their unusual job share.

"I would like to keep one, but it's working for us," Bolden said "I'm getting adjusted to it."

So is McGloin, the former walk-on who said Wednesday that he "can't stand" being called a former walk-on. The tougher part on the field has been getting the rest of the offense adjusted to the tandem.

"They've been getting more comfortable each and every week," McGloin said. "It definitely has been tough on them, but I'm really glad they're willing to work with us throughout this whole thing."

So far, the results are mixed.

The Nittany Lions (3-1) struggled with the passing game the first three games, including a 16-point loss to No. 3 Alabama and its staunch defense in Week 2.

They finally broke out last week against Eastern Michigan. Bolden was 7 of 13 passing for 115 yards with an interception and a short pass to speedy receiver Devon Smith that turned into a 71-yard touchdown.

McGloin was even better, hitting 14 of 17 for 220 yards and three touchdowns, a performance that earned him co-offensive player of the week honors in the Big Ten with Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson.

Yet that performance wasn't enough to secure McGloin the starting job. The offense appears to move a little crisper overall with him at quarterback, McGloin has displayed the stronger arm and a better rapport with leading receiver Derek Moye (20 catches for 285 yards, 2 TDs).

"It's definitely tough on the wideouts ... realizing who is in and what types of balls we throw," McGloin said. "It's tough on the offense and the offensive line. Rob and I are two different leaders, two different guys in the huddle."

The more vocal McGloin was jokingly nicknamed the "West Scranton gunslinger," after his hometown and his affinity for throwing deep.

He is more apt to throw the ball away while in trouble, though sometimes dangerously so.

McGloin had seemingly locked up the starting job after entering the lineup last year when Bolden suffered a concussion, before he threw five interceptions in the 37-24 loss to Florida in the Outback Bowl.

Bolden returned to Penn State this summer after pondering a transfer. He and McGloin stayed neck and neck and split reps all through fall camp, summer workouts and preseason practice.

"I still consider it a competition, fighting to get more reps," McGloin said. "But like I said, the coaches don't say too much about it. We're still taking it one day at a time."

Bolden's strengths include bullet passes through traffic on short-to-medium range plays, and a little more mobility that can help him scramble out of trouble. Both Bolden and McGloin say the entire playbook is available for both quarterbacks, though Bolden said Wednesday he wouldn't mind a few designed quarterback runs "to use my legs, which are an asset to me."

Bolden, though has shown a penchant for taking dangerous hits in the open field. He said he also needs to work his touch passes on deep balls. The quieter of the two candidates, Bolden said he's a little more vocal this year as his familiarity grows with the system, and that he's getting better at reading defenses.

"Right now, I'm way ahead of where I was last year," Bolden said. "Last year, I was going in pretty much clueless."

Bolden has started each of the first four games, with McGloin entering in relief at various points. Paterno this week even suggested coming in of the bench might be an advantage because of the opportunity to analyze the defense from the sideline.

McGloin and Bolden appreciate the sentiment, though they each would rather be the sole quarterback.

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